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YOUTHS' DEPARTMENT*
To the Children. —We are pleased
to see that our little friends are taking a
great deal of interest in this department,
and we shall try and make it as interest
ing to them as possible. We shall always
be gratified to hear from them, so when
they want to write to us they must not be
afraid to do so ; and, if sometimes we do
not publish what they send us, they must
not be discouraged, but “try, try again.”
GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA.
ACROSTICAL.
I am composed of 10 letters.
My 1,7, 3, 10, 5, is the name of a river
in France.
My 2, 15, 13, 7,2, is a town in Tur
key.
My 3, 12, 5, 11, 4, is a large body of
water.
My 4,7, 16, 2,5, 14, is a city of
Frauce.
My 5,2, 4,7, is a mountain in Sicily.
My 6,5, 14, 2, 15,4, is a town in
Missouri.
My 7,2, 8, 11, 16, 2,7, is a city in
Georgia.
My 8,7, 14, 1, 11, is a city in Thibet.
My 9,5, 16, 11, is a river in Africa.
My 10, 5, 14, 1, 15, is an island in the
Pacific Ocean.
My 11, 2,9, 7, 14, is a mountain of
Africa.
My 12, 7, 16, 2, 15, 4, is a city in
China.
My 13, 5,8, 7,2, is the capital of a
division of Asia.
My 14, 7, 11, 9,5, is a river in
Prussia.
My 15, 5,1, 5,8, is an island in the
Baltic sea.
My 16, 5,8, 1, 15, 4, is a river of
British America.
My whole is the name of a distinguished
General lor whom the South will ever
mourn.
Answers to Last Week’s Enigmas
No. B—“ For its People’s Hopes are Dead”
—Paradise Lost—T ilsit—Fed—Rope—
E. A. Poe—Raphael.
No. 9—“ Cypress Crowned Poet of the
South”— Hesperus— Hope—Cepheus—
Thesue Wit—Ryot—Newton—Cod—
Free. E. B.
Minnies and L. C. R.’s answers to
former enigmas were correct.
For the Banner of the Sonth.
THE HISTORY OF THE “COLORED EGGS.”
I have heard a church legend, in con.
nection with the wide spread practice of
coloring eggs at Easter, which gave rise
to the following little tale, which I trans
cribe for the young :
There was a Spanish noble who went
away among the Crusaders, to fight for
the Holy Land. When lie heard the call
for soldiers, in so righteous a cause, he
buckled on bis armor, called his retainers
around him, and said to them, “We goto
fin-lit for the tomb of our Lord; let that
thought inspire you to faithfulness.” He
left in his castle, near the banks of the
Guadalquiver, his Countess and two love
ly children, by name Teresa and Edmond.
When the hour for departure came, they
accompanied him as far as the chapel,
where they all went in to attend Mass;
which was then celebrated, as usual
every morning, at a very early hour, be
tween daylight and sunrise.
To the noble, and his band of followers,
how solemn it was to unite in such a ser
vice on the eve of departure from all they
loved on earth! How much more solemn
it must nave been to the Countess and
her children ; and with what earnestness
their prayers must have ascended in their
behalf, as they knelt around the altar and
partook together of the symbols of the pas
sion of our crucified Lord.
When he left home, the Countess did
not give herself up to useless rcpining>
or spend her hours in vain regrets. She
resigned him willingly, for the service
that had called him from her side, hoping
that they would conquer for God the con
secrated spot which had been torn from
the hands of His believers. Her soul was
full of charity and good deeds, and her
hands were full of gifts for the poor and
the sick. Little children she loved, “be
cause,” she said, “ these were to fill the
house of the Lord, and they could never
have its beauties, or learn to love its courts,
unless they were trained by the hands of
love.” So, that there were few feast
days that she did not remember the chil
dren. From far and near, sometimes,
they would be collected there to partake
of a simple feast upon the green lawn,
and to dance, or to play, on the banks of
the little stream that ran through the
grounds.
She had some attraction for every
feast. When Easter approached, she
colored the eggs, and marked on each
one a simple motto, conveying to the re
ceiver some cheering words, some hope
ful thought, or expression of love. Indeed,
she was a blessing to all the country
round. At stated times she stood at the
portal of her castle, and dispensed bread
and comforts to all the poor that came.
The famished turned from her door full;
and the poor had but one wish for her,
“God bless you, my lady; and make
you a blessing to the world.”
One Easter Monday—that is the day
after Easter Sunday—she had a feast for
the children, and, as usual, had prepared
colored eggs. The time arrived, and so
did the children. They spotted the green,
and were sprinkled about the borders of
the stream, and under the weeping wil
lows, that grew in a cluster on its banks.
It was a bright afternoon. The sun
smiled upon them ; the trees waved a
beautiful welcome to Spring, and the
birds were all music and joy for the lovely
day. The children looked only for hap
piness, and nothing else, that bl ight after
noon. There was to be no scolding, no
crying, no falling down, no melancholy
accidents, by -which any of them were to
be scut home. Oh no, it was Easter
Monday at the Castle of Colombiere!
The table was spread beneath the over
hanging foliage; the carpet beneath their
feet was green grass. When the children
were called to partake, they came in little
parties from the stream, and from hillocks
of grass, and from seats around large
trees, to the place where the sylvan feast
was spread. The Countess was there
herself, and her two children with her.
She greeted them with a smile, and said :
“ You are welcome guests, my little
friends. Partake of the feast, and re
member that Jesus Christ once took upon
himself the form of a child that he might
save you from evil. Let us invoke his
blessing.”' And she asked a blessing
upon the feast, and the little right hand
of all the children was raised to make
the sign of the cross, before they ate.
They were helped to the good things,
and filed off, to seat themselves in little
parties on the grass. The presence of
the Countess, whom they all reverenced,
as well as loved, served to keep them
very orderly.
Looked at them, seated around in little
clusters! Here a little family, and there
a little family, and many other places,
bands of friends. They had their food
served to them thus.
Then, there was no eye there, of all
that little crowd, that did not see those
two baskets, piled with beautiful colored
eggs; and each one there knew that a
share was for them.
There was blue, and orange-colored,
and red, and violet, and green ; ail the
colors were found there—some among
them were left white, and marked upon
with colored letters. But there was no
black—-no sombre shades. Everything
was bright—cheerful—gay.
“ Yonder is a little boy, my mother;
walking on the road, the other side of the
stream,” said Teresa.
“ Where is he, my dear Teresa ? I
do not see him.”
“ Look at him, my mother. Now he
passes the willows that grow down on the
bank of the stream.”
“ Oh, yes. I see him now/' said the
Countess “Let us watch him; and
when he gets near the bridge, we will
send, and invite him to come in, and par
take of the feast.”
The little boy trudged on. He looked
to be not more than twelve —a young
traveller—and seemed weary. When he
reached the bridge, the message from the
Countess was delivered to him. He
turned—crossed the bridge—came up the *
hill, and over the lawn to where she stood.
“ You are a very young traveller,” said
the Countess, extending her hand to him.
“ How far have you walked to-day ?”
“ I come from a great distance,” touch
ing his hat with gentle grace, “ and am
waiting to hear the name of the kind lady
who offers me refreshment at this pre
cious feast.”
“ Countess L. is my name, and here
are my daughter and son.”
“ Thank you, Countess, for your mes
sage, and I do with pleasure accept,” re
moving his hat now, and bowing. Ilis
hair fell over his neck in golden curls,
aud his eyes were full of joy.
His happy expression pleased her, and
she said to him:
“ You are happy, I see, though you are
tired How many miles have you walked
to-day V’
“ Oh, I have walked many a mile to
day ; but Ido not mind that. There is
something in here,” touching his heart,
“that keeps me strong, though I am
tired; and that makes me happy, when I
am alone.”
Teresa said: “My mother, may I offer
him some refreshments?”
“ Yes, my darling.”
And she brought him bread and a mor
sel of chipped beef, fruits and cake, and
said to him:
“ Here is a seat at the foot of this tree;
and I will watch your plate, and wait on
you myself. May Ido so, my mother ?”
“ Yes, my darling.”
Ho was a vigorous youth, with a man
ly appetite; and that for very good reason,
because he liad undertaken a manly
task.
[to be continued.]
FAMILIaTSCIENCE.
[Fro{>ai\><l for the Banner of the Sonth by Unde Baddy.]
ELECTRICITY CONTINUED LIGHTNING.
Lightning destroys animal life, because
in passing through man or beast, its action
upon *the nerves is too violent for their
powers of resistance ; but a person is
killed by lightning only when the body is
actually in the path of the electric fluid as
it is on its way to the earth. Sometimes
the action of this fluid is only strong 7
enough to injure the nerves, and not to
destroy life.
Balls of fire are formed by masses of
explosive gas. They are formed in the
air, travel more slowly than the ordinary
lightning, and fall to the eaith, exploding
like a cannon, and doing great injury.
Sometimes they run along the ground
and explode in a mass, while, at other
times, they split into numerous smaller
balls, each of which explodes in a similar
manner. They set fire to houses and
barns, and kill all cattle and human
beings that happen to be in their course.
It is very dangerous to be near a tree
or lofty building ; also, near a river or any
running water, because any tall object
will frequently discharge a lightning
cloud, and, if any one were nearby at the
time, the lightning might glance off and
pass through the human body.
If a cloud were 700 yards above the
earth it would be too far to be discharged;
but a spire or other tall object, fifty
yards high would shorten the distance
so that the cloud would no longer be too
far off to be discharged, the object acting
as a conductor for the lightning.
The most dangerous parts of a dwell
ing during a thunder storm are the fire
place, especially if the fire be lighted, the
attic, and the cellar. It is also imprudent
to sit close by the walls, to ring the bell,
or to bar the shutters, during a thunder
storm.
Fire-places are dangerous, becaase
heat, air, and soot, especially when con
nected with a stove or grate, are conduc
tors. Attics and cellars are dangerous,
because the electric fluid, as we have al
ready told you, sometimes passes from the
clouds to the earth, and sometimes from
the earth to the clouds, so, that in the
middle story must be the safest place.
It is dangerous to lean against a wall,
because the lightning, in passing down
the wall, would leave it and go into the !
body, which is a better conductor. It is ®
dangerous to touch the bell, because bell
wire is a conductor, and the fluid might
pass through the hand and injure it. It
is dangerous to be in a crowd, because a
mass of people forms a better conductor
than one person, and because the vapor
arising from the crowd increases its con
ducting power. Any place, about 20 or
30 feet from a tall tree, building, or stream
of water, is the safest place. A person
in a carriage during a storm, should not
lean against the sides of the carriage, but
sit upright, for the same reason that we
have given why no one should lean
against a wall.
A mattrass, bed, or hearth-rug fur
nishes good security against lightning.
If in the open air at the time, the best
thing a person can do is to stand about
20 or 30 feet from ai'y tall object and
get wet to the skin, because wet clothes
form a better conductor than the fluids of
the bod} 7 , aud the lightning, therefore,
would more readily pass down the wet
clothes.
,
The Boy that was Wanted.— Dr.
Bartram wanted an errand boy. George
Way land heard of it. “I will offer my
self,” said George, glad of a chance to do
something to help his poor mother. He
was a small, chubby little fellow; but he
was strong and willing hearted.
When he went to see the doctor, “I am
afraid you are not big enough,” said the
doctor.
“Only try me, sir,” said George. “1
am older than you take me'for; I am
eleven.” The doctor was surprised.
“And I can read,” said George, “and
write small hand as well as big, and lean
do sums. Do try me, sir; please do”
I “Are you a good walker !” said the
doctor.
“Oh, yes, sir.”
“You may be a first-rate walker,” said
the doctor, “and be able to read and
write, and do sums, and you may be very
strong, and yet you may not be the boy I
want.”
It was now George's turn to look sur-
O
prised.
“I want an honest, truth-telling, indus
trious boy ; one who would feel that if he
idled away his time when he ought to be
doing his work, he was robbing me; one
who would ask God to help him to be
faithful, and who would try to act when I
am away just as he would do if I were
present. Would you try to be such ahoy
to me as that, George.”
“Yes, sir,” said George, as if his whole
heart was in the answer, “yes, sir.”
That is the kind of boy every man
who hires a boy wants, as well as Doctor
Bartram; and no boy or girl that answers
to it will ever have to remain idle or
complain that the} 7 can find nothing to
do.
l)r. Bartram took George into his em
ployment.
Nicknames of Cities.— The following
is a list of the nicknames of a number of
the cities iu the Union : New York City,
the Gotham ; Boston, the Modern Athens;
Philadelphia, the Quaker City ; Balti
more, the Monumental City; Cincinnati,
the Queen City ; New Orleans, the Cres
cent City; Washington, the City of
Magnificent Distances; Chicago, the Gar
den City ; Toledo, the Corn City; Detroit,
the City of the Straits; Cleveland, the
Forest City ; Pittsburg, the Smoky City;
New Haven, the City of Elms ; St. Louis,
the Mound City ; Indianapolis, the Rail
road City: Keokuk, the Gate City; Nash-j
villc, the City of Rocks ; Hannibal, the
Bluff City; Quincy, the Model City;
Alexandria, the Delta City; Maysville,
Ky., the Seven Acre City ; Savannah, the
Forest City ; Atlanta, the Gate City,
Charleston, the Queen City of the South
WIT AND HUMOR.
The way one noble lord in Parliament
calls another noble lord a liar, is as fol
lows, as quoted from a speech last ses
sion : “I beg to call the attention of my
noble friend, the noble duke, to an obser
vation which my noble friend, the noble
duke, is reported to have made, and
which my noble friend, the noble duke,
will find upon retlection to be inconsistent
with strict veracity.”
An ingenious cobbler, who is known
as a man of few words, and who is very
provident of them, hit upon the following
plan to save expense in painting all the
letters of “Shoe Shop:”
E
SHO
P.
A Little^Lay. —Bachelor at breakfast
—Dear me, Susan, that's a very small
egg ! Susan—Yes, sir, it is; but it was
only laid this morning, sir.— Judy.
During the war for Southern independ
ence it is°known that a strong secessions
spirit was prevalent in Baltimore, in
which many of the newsboys sympathized.
One of these small itinerant peddlers,
with a bundle of newspapers under his
arm, entered a car at the Baltimore and
Ohio depot in that city, a few minutes
before the train started lor Washingtor,
and while passing through, shouted,
“Hurrah for Jeff Davis ! ’ Hurrah lor
the Devil!” replied a United States sol
dier, who, in bis blue uniform, occupied
a near seat. “4hat’s right! said the
youngster, “l oil hurrah for youi side,
aud I'll hurrah for mine!”
Seeing it announced that Grant is to
make a speech, one of our exchanges
warns him to remember the fate of the
first Ulysses, who, when very near to
port, was, by the opening of his wind*
[tags, blown far away from Ithaca.
Fooled.—A traveller was induced to
go into a cook shop by this inscription :
“Roast and boiled at twopence a head.”
He was not a little disappointed at two
courses of potatoes.
“I wish I could prevail on neighbor
Binder to keep the Sabbath,” said good
old Mr. Jones “I’ll tell you how to do
it!” exclaimed young Smith ; “get some
body to lend it to him, and I’ll be bound
if he don’t keep it. He never was known
to return anything he borrowed.”
MRS. SMITH ONCE MORE.
“The 'conscience fund,* at Washington,
Is growing every day,
Because the little, petty thieves,
Are learning how to pray;
But, strange to tell, our shoddy men
From pangs of fear are free;
They don’t return the wealth they stoic,”
Says Mrs. Smith, says she.
“If all the world were blind, what a
melancholy sight it would be !” said an
Irish orator.
Cross Heading.- -Here is a queer old
rhyme which is quite contrary in sense,
as you read it across, running the lines
together:
I always did intend To take me a wife,
Single my life to spend, Would grieve my very life,
It much doiiglitcth me To think upon a bride,
To live from women free, I can’t be satisfied.
A female to my mind, The joy I can’t express,
I ne’er expect to find, So great in singleness.
A bachelor to live I never could agree
My mind I freely give, A married man to be.
A few days since, an old gentleman in
Missouri, where the drouth has been
severe, and who has been hauling water
for the last three months, on being asked
by an acquaintance if he thought it
would rain, remarked, “I hope not; for it
it does, it will spoil the road so I cannot
haul water.”
AGUE.
“And it shook him, shook him sorely,
Shook his boots off and his toe nails.
Shook his teeth out and his hair off.
Shook his coat all into tatters,
Shook his shirt all into ribbons,
Shirtless, coatless, hairless, toothlosi.
Minus boots and minus toe nails,
Still it shook him, shook him till it
Made him yellow, gaunt, and bony;
Shook him till it shuffled for him
Off his mortal coil, aud then, it,
Having laid him cold and quiet,
Shook the earth all down upon him;
And he lies beneath his gravestone,
Ever shaking, shaking, shaking!”
Old gentleman at railroad depot buys
a ticket, putting his wallet between his
teeth while lie counts his change, then
with a startled look, turns around, files
about, searching carefully everywhere,
stops frequently to make nervous inves
tigation of his pocket, shakes his head,
and resumes his tramp. Comes finally
to the ticket window again, and says:
“Have you seen"—and the wallet falls
from his lips to the counter. “There Tis
now! Had it in my mouth all the time!”
He smiles benignantly, the crowd laugh
b ti.sterously, amd the curtain falls.
Too Smart for the Minister. —An
acquaintance of ours, who has a bright,
keen little girl in her family, related to
us yesterday the following incident: The
family were dining, when the conversa
tion turned upon an excursion about to
take place. A clergyman at the table
spoke to the little girl and asked her if
she could repeat the alphabet backwards.
She said, “No, sir.” when the gentleman
remarked, “Then you can’t goon the ex
cursion.” She looked very demure for a
moment, when she asked, “Can you say
the Lord’s Prayer backwards ?” “No,
dear.” “Then,” replied the girl, “you
can’t go to heaven.” Her interrogator
stopped.
“Have you paid the Tax on your in
come, Pat ?” “No, sur.” “And why
not ? “Because it is iueom-pat-ible with
my interests.”
Os all the young women mentioned in
the Bible. Ruth seems to have treated
her sweetheart the worst. She pulled
his ears and trod on ids corn
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